Coupler mechanism



F. H. KAYLER COUPLER MECHANISM Filed Jhly 17, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F. H. YKAYLER COUPLER MECHANISM Filed July 17, 1945 March 19, 1946:

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IINVENTOR. L/c 1 07(@& f

a/ BY Patented Mar. 19, 1946 COUPLER MECHANISM Frank H. Kayler, Alliance, Ohio, assignor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, 111., a corporation of New Jersey Application July 17, 1943, Serial No. 495,115

24 Claims.

My invention relates to automatic railway coupler mechanisms and more particularly to a form of operating rod normally associated with automatic couplers as used on American railways.

It is a well known fact among railway operat ing men that one of the principal difficulties in automatic couplers is to provide an anticreep that will operate satisfactorily under all sorts of conditions. It is well known, for example, that under present standard conditions the operating rod now used will on occasion swing away from the car body, tending to release the anticreep. If this happens to occur at the same instant that some force on the coupler tends to throw th lock upwards in the head, the lock is free to rise and may be elevated to such a point that the knuckle will be released and cause a train parting. 'Such a combination of conditions is relatively rare but it is, of course, desirable to eliminate th possibility entirely.

The object of my arrangement is to obtain greater stability of the operating rod when in rest position in order to resist any tendency of the handle to swing and cause rotation of the rod during train operation.

A more specific object of my invention is to devise an operating rod in the form of a one-piece structure and a bracket afi'ording support for the handle end thereof in such manner as practically to eliminate the possibility of accidental rotation of the rod.

A different object of my invention is to provide such a construction in the operating rod as to afiord relatively great stability therefor when in rest position by an arrangement such that rotation of the operating rod in a direction to disengage the anticreep and permit unlocking of the coupler will require the entire weight of the rod to be rotated about a pivot point remote from its neutral axis and on the side opposite such direction of rotation.

Still another object of my invention is to dc.- vise a combination of coupler operating rod and car body support for the handle end thereof as will substantially eliminate accidental rotation of the rod.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my novel arrangement as applied to a railway car.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the structure shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the structure shown in Figures 1 and 2, the section being taken longitudinally of the car body and substantially in the vertical plane indicated by the line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a sectional view comparable to that of Figure 3, illustrating a certain condition of rotation.

Figures 5 and 6 are further sectional views similar to that of Figure 3, illustrating a relationship of the parts under other conditions of rotation of th operating rod.

Describing the structure in detaihmy novel arrangement is shown as applied to the end sill 2 of a car body (not shown) with which may be associated in usual manner the coupler 4. As illustrated, my novel form of operating rod, generally designated 5, comprises the usual hook end 6 (Figure 2) for connection to the lifter (not shown) of the present standard E coupler. The hook end 6 merges with the short horizontal portion 8 which is joined to the diagonal portion Ill 20 and continued in a further horizontal portion l2 at one end of which may be formed a U-shaped loop l4 joining at one end the handle [6. -As illustrated, the entire operating rod 5 is made of a single bar of metal but a similar form could be made by welding several 'pieces together to approximate the shape and contour illustrated. The portions 6, 8, I 0 and I2 of my novel form of operating rod are substantially identical with the present standard operating rod as utilized with the standard E coupler.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the operating rod 5 may have the hook end 6 connected as at l8 to the lifter link (not shown) of the coupler 4, and the horizontal portion I2 of the operating rod adjacent the handle end may extend through the U-shaped portion 20 of the bracket 22 which may be Ifixed to the end sill 2 adjacent an end thereof in any manner, such as by bolts 24 (Figure 2). Th bracket 22 may be formed with a vertical web 26 receiving the securing means 24 and continued into the forwardly extending flange 28 at the end of which may be formed the beforementioned U-shaped slot or eye 20. The bracket 22 may also have the horizontal fiange-30 reinforced by diagonal beading as at 3|, said flange 3B affording a rest as at 32 for the bottom leg 34 of the before-mentioned U-shaped loop portion I4 of the operating rod. It should be noted that said bottom leg 34 seats upon the horizontal bracket 22 well to the rear of the eye 20 as well as forwardly thereof to the edge of the flange 30. The rod-receiving slot or eye 20 is elongated vertically to afford a clearance as at 36 beneath the portion l2 of the rod which passes therethrough (Figure 3) so that the rod will seat as at 32, as

vleft and pulled forward as far a possible. -respective positions of the loop I4 on the bracket 1 flange 30 are similarly illustrated at the left of Figure 1.

aforesaid, and not bear on the bottom of the eye 20. Clearance over the portion i2 is also aiforded as at 38 above the operating rod to permit the rod to be raised completely oil of the horizontal flange 30 when the handle I6 is elevated to the position illustrated in Figure 5 in the normal operation of unlocking the coupler. The upper end of the eye 20 may be closed by the roller or filler block 40 (Figure 3), retained in position by the cotter pin 42.

In the normal rest position, as illustrated in Figure 3, it should be mentioned that the only support for the handle end of the operating rod is at the seat 32 where the horizontal lower leg 34 of the loop l4 rests upon the bracket flange 30.

Reference to Figure 4 illustrates the condition that develops when the handle of the operating rod is rotated in a direction outwardly from the car body without at the same time elevating the rod. Such a condition would develop if any a-b normal force were applied to the rod, tending to rotate it in that direction. Under such conditions rotation of the rod is resisted by the fact trates how theseveral portion 6, l and iii of the operating rod are placed well to the right of the fulcrumpoint 44, about which the rod as a whole must pivot when it is moved in a rotation to release the anticreep and unlock the lock.

. The operation of unlocking the coupler b hand is illustrated in Figure 5 where it may be noted that application of force to the handle IS in the usualmanner elevates the handle end of the rod untilit engages the roller .40; said roller forming the fulcrum point about which the rod rotates for .that purpose. Under these conditions, the rod is lifted ofi of the bracket flange 30 and is free to rotate about the roller 40, as described. T .After'the operation illustrated in Figure 5, the

handle 16 is normally released by the operator and dropped back on the bracket flange 30 as at 46, and the weight of the handle and other portions of the rod returns it to its normal rest position, as illustrated in Figure 3.

The bracket 22 isof a size to accommodate on the flange 30 seats for the several positions which the handle end of the operatin rod may assume,

resulting from the variou operating conditions of the coupler, the reverse extremities of which are illustrated in Figure l. The dotted outline of the rod in Figure 1 illustrates its position when the coupler is angled to the extreme right and buffed back as far as possible, while the phantom outline of the rod illustrated in Figure. 1 shows its position when the coupler is angled to the extreme The 11f desired, the bracket 22 may be formed with adependingportion 48 with a'ledge Ellat its lower extremity affording a stop asat 52 (Figure 3) as a limit for: clockwise rotation of the rod. The extension 48 would have such a length as to providethe abutment at 52 in well known mannor for any of the several positions of the operat- -ing rod illustrated in Figure 1.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device shown which is merely by way of'illustration'and not limitation as various and other forms of the device will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim: 1

1. In combination, a car body, a coupler securedthereto for vertical and lateral angling with respect thereto, a bracket on said car body laterally of said coupler, and an operating rod connected to said coupler at one end and supported at said bracket adjacent the handle end, a horizontal seat and securing means on said bracket for said rod, said'rod having a horizontal portion joining the handle and the body thereof and extending fore and aft the axis of rotation of said rod for positioning on said seat while said rod extends through said securing means without bearing thereon, said bracket seat having a lateral extension sufficient to accommodate movement of said rod with angling of said coupler, said rod normally resting on said seat and when so positioned resisting accidental counterclockwise rotation of said rod by substantially the entire weight of said rod which, in such accidental rotation, must fulcrum at the rear of said horizontal portion on said seat, while in manual counterclockwise rotation thereof said rod may beelevated to pivot against said securing means at an intermediate point 0 said horizontal portion.

2. In a coupler operating mechanism, a car body, a coupler support therein, a bracket adjacent the side of said car body, and an operating rod operatively connected to said coupler and extending transversely of said car body for support on said bracket, said bracket having a horizontal flange affording a seat for said rod, and means retaining said rod on said bracket, said rod having a portion between the body and the depending handle thereof projecting transversely both fore and aft of the axis of rotation of said body and afiording a horizontal seat of substantial length for positioning on said flange, said portion affording a seat for the handle end of said rod when at rest andafiording'substantial stability therefor against accidental rotation, said rod being free to be manually elevated against a portion of said retaining means and rotated in a counterclockwise direction to uncouple said coupler whileresisting any tendency toward such counterclockwise movement from its rest'position.

'3. In combination, a car body, a coupler secured thereon, a bracket on said body laterally of said coupler, a rod operably connected to said coupler and supported at said bracket, said bracket having a horizontal seat laterally of the point of securement for the handle end of said rod, said rod said rod tends by accidental means to rotate counterclockwise from rest position.

4. In combination, a car body, a coupler. supported thereon, a bracket on said car body laterally of said coupler, an operating mechanism for said coupler comprising a rod having a loop end connected to said coupler and a main body portion extending from said loop end diagonally to said bracket for rotative support thereon, said bracket having a slot for vertical movement of said rod therein and a horizontal flange, said rod having a loop therein between said diagonal portion and the handle thereof, the lower leg of said loop projecting transversely fore and aft of the axis of said main body portion and affording a seat for said rod on said flange with clearance from the bottom of said slot, and a roller fixed in said slot above said rod, said rod being rotatable against said roller as a fulcrum when elevated in said slot by manual movement of said. handle in the act of unlocking said coupler.

5. In combination, a car body, a coupler supported thereon, a bracket on said car body laterally of said coupler, an operating mechanism for said coupler comprising a rod having a loop end connected to said coupler and a main body portion extending from said loop end diagonally to said bracket for rotative support thereon, said bracket having a slot for vertical movement of said rod therein and a horizontal flange, said rod having a loop therein between said diagonal portion and the handle thereof, the lower leg of said loop projecting transversely fore and aft of the axis of said main body portion and affording a seat for said rod on said flange with clearance from the bottom of said slot, and fulcrum means fixed in said slot above said rod against which said rod may pivot when manually elevated in the operation of unlocking the lock of said coupler.

6. In combination, a car body, a coupler supported thereon, a bracket on said car body laterally of said coupler, an operating mechanism for said coupler comprising a rod having a loop end connected to said coupler and a main body portion extending from said loop end diagonally to said bracket for rotative sup-port thereon, said bracket having a slot for vertical movement of said rod therein and a horizontal flange, said rod having a loop therein between said diagonal portion and the handle thereof, the lower leg of said 100p projecting transversely fore and aft of the, axis of said main body portion and affording a seat for said rod on said flange with clearance from the bottom of said slot, rotation of said rod without elevation of the U-shaped portion thereof causing said rod to fulcrum at the rear of said U- shaped portion, whereby the entire weight of said rod resists said rotation.

7. In combination, a car body, a coupler supported thereon, an operating rod having an end connected to said coupler, a body portion extend ing therefrom laterally of said car body, a slotted bracket on said car body, said body portion extending through said slot for guidance therein, a handle portion laterally thereof joined to said body portion through a loop having a horizontal leg affording a seat for said rod on a portion of said bracket, said horizontal leg extending transversely of the axis of rotation of said body portion both fore and aft thereof to afford a stable seat therefor when positioned on said bracket portion, said body portion having clearance from the bottom of said slot when so seated in normal rest position, and retaining means in the top of said slot against which said rod may fulcrum and pivot when manually elevated thereagainst in unlocking said coupler.

8. In combination, a car body, a coupler supported thereon, an operating rod having an end connected to said coupler, a body portion extending therefrom laterally of said car body, a slotted bracket on said car body, said body portion extending through said slot for guidance therein, and a handle portion joined to said body portion through a loop having a horizontal leg affording a seat for said rod on a portion of said bracket, said horizontal leg extendin transversely of the axis of rotation of said body portion both fore and aft thereof to afford a stable seat therefor when positioned on said bracket portion, accidental rotation of said rod in an uncoupling direction being substantially prohibited by said described arrangement wherein the fulcrum for such accidental rotation is positioned at the rear of said loop portion at one side of said axis.

9. In a coupler operating mechanism, a car body, a coupler supported therein, a bracket with a slot adjacent the side of said car body, and an operating rod operatively connected to said coupler and extendin transversely of said car body for support in said slot, said bracket having a horizontal flange affording a seat for said rod, and means retaining said rod on said bracket, said rod having a portion between the body and the depending handle thereof projecting transversely fore and aft of the axis of rotation of said body affording a horizontal seat of substantial length for positioning on said flange, said portion affording the seat for the handle end of said rod when at rest and affording substantial stability therefor against accidental rotation.

10. In combination, a car body, a coupler secured thereto for vertical and lateral angling with respect thereto, a bracket on said car body laterally of said coupler, and an operating rod connected to said coupler at one end and supported at said bracket adjacent the handle end, a horizontal seat and securing means on said bracket for said rod, said rod having a horizontal portion joining the handle and the body thereof and extending fore and aft the axis of rotation of said rod for positioning on saidseat While said rod extends through said securing means without bearing thereon, said rod being manually rotatable counterclockwise for unlocking said coupler by elevating against a portion of said securing means and pivoting theragainst.

11. In combination, a car body, a coupler secured thereto for vertical and lateral angling with respect thereto, a bracket on said car body laterally of said coupler, and an operating rod connected to said coupler at one end and supported at said bracket adjacent the handle end, a horizontal seat and securing means on said bracket for said rod, said rod having a horizontal portion joining the handle and thebody thereof and extending fore and aft the axis of rotation of said rod for positioning on said seat while said rod extends through said securing means without bearing thereon, said bracket seat havinug a lateral extension sufiicient to accommodate movemerit of said rod with angling of said coupler.

12. In combination, a car body,- a coupler supported thereon, a bracket on said car body laterally of said coupler, an operating mechanism for said coupler comprising a rod having a loop end connected to said coupler and a main body portion extending from said loop end diagonally to said bracket for rotative support thereon, said bracket having a slot for Vertical movement of said rod therein and a horizontal flange, said rod having a loop therein between said diagonal portion and the handle thereof, the lower leg of said loop projecting transversely fore and aft of the axis of said main body portion and affording a from the bottom ofsaid slot.

13. In combination, a car body, .a coupler secured thereto for vertical and lateral angling with respect thereto, a bracket on said car body laterally of said coupler, and an operating rod connected to said coupler at one end and supported at said bracket adjacent the handle end, a horizontal seat and securing means on said bracket for said rod, said rod having a horizontal portion joining the handle and the body thereof and extending fore and aft the axis of rotation of said rod for positioning on said seat While said rod extends through said securing means without hearing thereon, said rod normally resting on said seat and when so positioned resisting accidental counterclockwise rotation of said rod by substantially the entire weight of said rod which, in such accidental rotation, must fulcrum at one extremity of said horizontal portion on said seat.

14. In combination, a car body, a coupler supported thereon, an operating rod having an end connected to said coupler, a body portion extending therefrom laterally of said car body, a slotted bracket on said car body adjacent the side thereof, said body portion extending through said slot for guidance therein, and a handle portion laterally thereof joined to said body portion through a loop having a horizontal leg afiording a seat for said rod on a portion of said bracket, said horizontal leg extending transversely of the axis of rotation of said body portion both fore and aft thereof to afiord a stable seat therefor when positioned on said bracket portion.

15. In combination, a car body, a coupler secured thereon, a bracket on said body laterally of said coupler, a rod operably connected to said coupler and supported at said bracket, said bracket having a horizontal flange laterally of the point of securement aifording a seat for the end of said rod adjacent the handle thereof, said rod having an intermediate portion joining said handle to the body thereof and comprising a horizontal part projecting transversely of the axis of rotation of said rod for positioning on said seat both fore and aft of said axis of rotation.

16. In combination, a car body, a coupler secured thereto for vertical and lateral angling with respect thereto, a bracket on said car bodylaterally of said coupler, and an operating rod connected to said coupler at one end and supported at said bracket adjacent the handle end, a horizontal seat and securin means on said bracket for said rod, said rod having a horizontal portion joining the handle and the body thereof and extending fore and aft the axis of rotation of said rod for positioning on said seat while said rod extends through said securing means without bearing thereon.

17. A coupler operating rod having a coupler connecting end, a handle, a body joining'said end and said handle with a plurality of angularly arranged substantially horizontal portions intermediate said body and said handle, one of said horizontal portions afiording a seat for said rod in normal rest position and a fulcrum therefor against which said rod must rotate when accidentally urged counterclockwise, and the other of said horizontal portions aifording a fulcrum about which said rod ma rotate when elevated and manually actuated, said first-mentioned horizontal portion extending transversely of the seat for said rod on said flange with clearance axis of said rod and substantially to either side thereof.

18. A coupler operating rod having a coupler connecting end, a handle, a body joining said end and said handle with a plurality of angularly arranged horizontal portions intermediate said body and said handle, one of said horizontal portions affording a seat for said rod in normal rest position and a fulcrum therefor against which said rod must rotate when accidentally urged counterclockwise, and the other of said horizontal portions affording a fulcrum about which said rod may rotate when manually actuated.

19. A coupler operating rod having a coupler connecting end, a handle, anda body extending between said end and handle and including two verticall spaced and angularly arranged portions adajacent said handle, at least one of which is arranged transversely of the axis of rotation of said rod, one of said horizontal portions afiording a seat for said rod in normal rest position and the other thereof affording a fulcrum about which said rod ma pivot on manual actuation thereof.

20. A coupler operating rod having a loop end for connection to a coupler unlocking link, a main body portion extending from said loop end toward the handle end thereof, a loop portion in said rod joining said main body portion and said handle end, said loop portion havinga horizonleg projecting transversely and to opposite sides of the axis of rotation of said main body portion and aifording a seat upon which said rod may stably rest when supported from said loop end and said horizontal leg.

21. In a coupler operating rod, a loop end for operable connection to a coupler, a diagonal body portion, a depending handle, and a U- shaped loop intermediate said handle and said body portion having a horizontal bottom leg affording a seat therefor, said leg extending transversely of the axis of rotation of said body portion and a substantial distance at either side thereof to afiord a stable rest for said rod when supported at rest on said leg.

22. A coupler operating rod having a coupler connecting end, a handle, and a body extending between said end and handle and including fulcrum means and a seat for said rod, said seat lying transversely of the axis of rotation of said rod, said fulcrum means aifording vertically and horizontally spaced pivots on which said rod may rotate respectively when accidentally rotated and when manually operated.

23. A coupler operating rod having a body portion, a handle, and vertically spaced elements therebetween affording fulcruins about which said rod may turn respectively when manually operated and when actuated b gravity, one of said elements being arranged transversely of the axis of rotation of said rod.

24. In a coupler operating rod, a supporting bracket, said rod having a body portion, a handle, and vertically spaced elements therebetween afiording fulcrums about which said rod may turn against portions of said bracket respectively when manually operated and when actuated by gravity, one of said fulcrums being in line with the axis of rotation of said rod and the other of said fulcrums being laterally spaced from said axis.

FRANK H. KAYLER. 

